The End of Rome’s Monarchy myth and History

1. The End of Rome’s Monarchymyth and History • Lecture Outline • 1. Wiseman Ch. 3: Early Rome (6th century BC) a few more important points and terms • Wiseman Ch. 4: Liber and the Free Republic • Greek story motifs for Roman stories

2. Tarquin and Servius Tullius:the Etruscan version: (early 6th century BC) • Sources: 1. Etruscan tomb paintings (4th century BC) Etruscan mirror; 2. Etruscan traditions related by Romans 1st century BC onwards • Caile Vipinas = Cailius Vibenna; • Macstrna = Mastarna his slave and companion; driven out from Etruria with army, occupied Caelian hill – (gave name) • Aule Vipinas = Aulus/Olus Vibenna also driven out from Vulci, killed by Macstrna, buried in Rome • Lucius Tarquinius found his head on site of future temple of Jupiter: hill named Capitolium – caput Oli = the head of Olus

3. The Etruscan side of the Story • Marce Camitlnas drawing sword on Cneve Tarchunis Rumach (Marcus Camillus versus Gnaeus Tarquinius of Rome • Emperor Claudius (also a historical scholar) had Etruscan sources that claimed Macstrna (a slave) who killed Aulus Vibinas made himself king • Romans no knowledge about a king Maxtarna

4. The Roman Version • Tarquinius captured slave girl Ocrisia from Latin neighbours as a war prize as present for his wife. • Myth of penis in ash of hearth – believed to have been household guardian Lar or a Genius (household power of procreation); others s • Rationalizing historians suggest she was pregnant by husband Tullius when captured, or married one of Tarquin’s followers and boy was an ordinary slave (Servius Tullius) • Servus = slave from servare = to save; a war captive who was enslaved and not killed was saved from death • Story of portent: flames around his head without burning him; boy was then groomed for Tarquin’s succession • Story about Tanaquil concealing death of Tarquin until Servius Tullius could be installed as ruler • Very likely opposition to his succession • Etruscan version claims slave of Caile Vipina’s slave Macstrna • Roman version morphed Macstrna into a divinely conceived king – ordinary slave as king unacceptable for Roman historical tradition

5. 6th century continued • Corinthian influence had become weaker • More intensive trade with Ionian city states; • New ideas and arrivals in Italy: • Xenophanes of Kolophon, poet and philosopher • Promation of Samos, geographer • Pythagoras of Samos, mathematician, mystic, social reformer

6. Promathion of Samos: the story of Tarchetios, the penis in the hearth and the birth of twins • Told story about Tarchetios, a lawless and cruel king of the Albans (Latins) • Tarchetios is linguistically close to Etruscan name Tarchon, legendary founder of city of Tarquinii as well as of the house of the Tarquins. • Another story about a penis in the ash but king’s daughter refused to have sex with the phallus, and sends slave girl instead; The nymph Tethys (wife of Oceanus) promises birth of one son, but girl gives birth to two (Plutarch, Romulus 1.3-6, pg. 47); • Twins exposed at river • At some point later The Romans adjusted this story to fit into the later foundation legend of Romulus and Remus

7. Making sense of these stories • In historical context of 6th century BC – early Rome was politically very unstable, similar to the American Wild-West – anything was possible for wealthy and ambitious warlords with plenty of muscle men. • The descendants of Demeratos tried to establish their family dynasty; • Macstrna was a rival war-lord who had popular support • Rome was not yet an organized state in any sense; over the following centuries Romans developed a less confusing story which interprets stories in context of the political developments.

8. Pythagoras of Samos • Lived at Kroton late 6th century BC(Greek colony in S. Italy) • People thought he was Apollo • A secret doctrine of his cult: 3 types of rational living beings: gods, men, Pythagoras • 200 years later, in the 4th century sees a revival of his cult; • Oracle at Delphi told Romans to set up statues to wises and braves of Greeks • Romans set up statue of Pythagoras and of Alkibiades (Athenian aristocrat of 5th century) • Important: What Pythagoreans of 4th century BC believed see primary source on page 49 Wiseman: all decisions had to be made in accord with the divine; • Reason for Pythagoreans’ interest in divination – communication with divine to find out what they wanted; • Sibyl of Kyme (story of old woman trying to sell king gold scrolls); Sibyl important in divination; consulted to interpret important portents

9. Numa Pompilius2nd Roman King • From Sabine country; represented the Romans’ paradigm of a wise and pious king; • Associated with law giving, creation of religious institutions, reign considered peaceful and tranquil • Associated with the nymph Egeria (one of Roman Camenae goddess of inspiration (Greek Muses). • Egeria Taught him how to make gods reveal their knowledge, read oracles, mollify divine anger and soften their demands • Bargained with Jupiter who wanted human sacrifice – living human heads • Got him to accept living fish, human hair, and onion heads; Jupiber laughed and accepted – clear Pythagorean influence (to find out what delights gods and then do that) • By 6th century – Romans knew what a good king should do and what not. Threw out Tarquinius Superbus – a tyrant.

10. The later tradition of the Tarquins and Brutus • Filled with anachronism and Roman patriotism, closely associated with the free Republic; account in Livy reflects the fully developed tradition written 500 years later • However, some elements of real historical context of early Rome are still discernable • Story of the Vultures, the Snake and the Dog: garden of Tarquin’s palace palm tree with nest of eagles. Tarquin had wife and 2 sons and a mute boy Brutus (an idiot); • At one banquet huge snake came out of tree attacked diners (one version has it bark). Then vultures killed the young eagles in nest. When parents returned - attacked and driven away • King sent sons and Brutus to Apollo to interpret portent. Sons gave expensive gifts, Brutus his wooden stick. • Apollo’s response: throne threatened when dog spoke with human voice. He who would kiss his mother first would succeed king Tarquin. • Brutus fell and kissed ground – his wooden stick was of gold inside, was treated like a dog and now he spoke

11. The meaning of this story • Romans must have destroyed Tarquin’s palace, killed sons, drove royal couple into exile. • In this version portents ugly: Brutus a barking snake – not a Roman tradition but earlier tradition; Greek historians were sympathetic to Tarquin (descendant of Demeratos the Corinthian); • Also Apollo promises regal power to Brutus not the consulship of the developed Republic

12. Livy’s account • ..at almost the same moment Brutus arrived at Aredea and Tarquin Rome. The gates were closed to Tarquin and his exile proclaimed. The liberator of the city received a delighted welcome in the camp, and the king’s sons were expelled from it. Two of them accompanied their father into exile at Caere among the Etruscans. Sextus Tarquin went to Gabii, apparently regarding it as his personal fiefdom; but there he was killed by those who had witnessed his murders and depredations and were bent on settling old scores. Lucius Tarquinius Superbus reigned fro twenty-five years. The monarchy at Rome from her foundation to her liberation lasted two hundred and forty-four years. (Livy 1.60)

13. The Revolution • Did not originally achieve political freedom • Account of immediate creation of consulship is anachronistic • Etruscan warlord Lars Porsena of Clusium occupied Rome after Tarquin’s exile; withdrew when his army was defeated at Aricia • The Latins won with help from Greek city state Kyme

14. The Tribus • Late 6th century Roman territory divided into districts = tribus – not tribe/kin group in modern sense but defined geographic area; • 20 tribes: 16 rural tribes, 4 urban tribes (later number increased) • Rural tribes were given names of dominant landowners of district – evidence of big land-owning families dating back to regal period • 6 families died out • Rest prominent throughout Roman Republic and beyond • i.e. Claudii produced an emperor

15. Patrician Families • Fabii – descended from Herkules • Aemilii, descendants of Aimylia, daughter of Aeneas • Claudii, originally from Sabine country – Attus Claudus arrived in Rome with 5000 followers (2 stories about the early Claudii: Siege of Rome, one jumps from wall and kills enemy commander, injures leg – limps: Claudus = lame • Cornelii - story about huge heifer’s sacrifice, ensured promise that Romans would rule over Italy; huge horns (cornua) set up on temple; The cunning priest was called Cornelius • Cornelli extremely prominent, i.e. Lucius Cornelius Scipio Africanus – victor over Hannibal • Horatii - elaborate stories each with exceptional hero – family disappears in 4th century: story of triplets; story of Marcus Horatius who finds out about his son’s death during dedication of temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus on Capitos - story example that duty to god and community is more important than mourning a son’ • Story 3 -Horatius Cocles - born with one eye; defends bridge with his life – example to inspire young Romans - in Vergil’s Aeneid – story put on shield of Aeneas